The International Anti-Corruption Day Celebrated in Tehran

9 December marks the International Anti-Corruption Day. This year's campaign,
Zero Corruption - 100% Development, reinforces the idea that development can thrive only when societies tackle the root causes of corruption.

The joint UNODC and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) campaign focuses on the corrosive effects of corruption on development. "Corruption is a barrier to achieving the Millennium Development Goals and needs to be taken into account in defining and implementing a robust post-2015 development agenda", said UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in his message to mark the International Day.

The campaign aims to bring together people from all walks of life in the fight against corruption, serving as a global call for action and raising awareness about the UN Convention against Corruption (UNCAC). Taking back what is lost to corrupt groups is everyone's responsibility; the International Day is observed the world over by governments, civil society organizations, the private sector, the media, and the general public.

The International Anti-Corruption Day was celebrated in Iran jointly by UNODC and a group of non-governmental organizations. The Iranian Vice President for Executive Affairs, H.E. Mr. M. Shariatmadari, joined the event and delivered a speech on the fight against corruption, where the need to tackle economic crime and acts of corruption by the government was highlighted.

The UNODC Representative in Iran briefed the participants in the Tehran event on UNODC's role as the custodian of UNCAC and provided further information on the Country Office mandates. He praised the national efforts in this area and expressed UNODC's eagerness to expand areas of cooperation. He also read the message of the UNODC Executive Director, Mr. Yury Fedotov, on the occasion and the translation of the message in Farsi was distributed among the invitees. In his message, Mr. Fedotov stated that the International Anti-Corruption Day is a suitable day to celebrate the Tenth Anniversary of the UNCAC. He emphasized that "Corruption is not simply a developed or developing nation's problem, it is the challenge of every person, and every nation", adding that we need a powerful platform to help reject corruption in all its many forms.